Apparatus for ejecting a stapled set of sheets sidewise from the collating bins

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for ejecting stapled sets of sheets sidewise includes a freely rotatable driven wheel, a drive wheel, means for driving said drive wheel, means for positioning the driven wheel on one major surface of the collated sets of sheets, means for positioning the drive wheel on the opposite side of the major surface opposite the driven wheel, means for moving the drive wheel against the driven wheel whereby the collated set of sheets are ejected sidewise by frictional force. There is further provided a stapling apparatus and control means for integrating the operation of the stapling and ejecting functions in a high speed copier/duplicator whereby each of a plurality of collated sets of sheets are stapled and ejected in succession.

United States Patent Leiter et a1.

APPARATUS FOR EJECTING A STAPLED SET OF SHEETS SIDEWISE FROM THECOLLATING BlNS Inventors: Larry L. Leiter; Gerard C. Wright,

both of Fairport; David G. Bowman, Rochester, all of NY.

Xerox Corporation, Stamford, Conn.

Filed: Dec. 27, 1973 Appl. No.: 428,977

Assignee:

3,708.160 1/1973 Kantarian et a1. 270/53 Primary ExaminerGranville Y.Custer, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for ejecting stapled sets of sheets sidewiseincludes a freely rotatable driven wheel, a drive wheel, means fordriving said drive wheel, means for positioning the driven wheel on onemajor surface of the collated sets of sheets, means for positioning thedrive wheel on the opposite side of the major surface opposite thedriven wheel, means for moving the drive wheel against the driven wheelwhereby the collated set of sheets are ejected sidewise by frictionalforce. There is further provided a stapling apparatus and control meansfor integrating the operation of the stapling and ejecting functions ina high speed copier/du plicator whereby each of a plurality of collatedsets of sheets are stapled and ejected in succession.

2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEU HAYZOIQYS IMMMHIIIMIH g SHEET 10?8 FIG. 1

'PATENTED M2 3,884,408

SHEET 8 OF 8 0 770 43 c LLATIN G LOGIC 2/0,

/27\ MOTOR Hm- 2 309 DRIVE CIRCUIT )MoT-| 305 EXPOSURE MACHINE OUTPUT vPROCESSOR 12a COUNTER L0 4 FINGERS 362 352 To F "|:J: TO 00 Kl MOT-lMOT-2 H IT 0| 2 g 02 4 POWER SOURCE Pmmenm 3,884,408

SHEET 7 OF 8 40/ (FIGJO) F/G. l0

PATENTED HAYZUISYS SHEET 8 OF 8 APPARATUS FOR EJECTING A STAPLED SET OFSHEETS SIDEWISE FROM THE COLLATING BINS This invention relates generallyto an ejecting apparatus and, in particular, to an ejecting apparatusfor use in a copier/duplicator for producing unlimited number ofcollated copy sets from aset of documents.

High speed copier/duplicators has created a need for improved collatingapparatus for handling the outputs of the machine produced at arelatively high speed. An inventive and novel apparatus meeting such ademand is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,830,590, assigned to the presentassignee.

According to the approach disclosed therein, a collating apparatus isshown to include two sets of 25 col lating bins. The apparatus includesmeans including a control logic circuitry for operating the two set ofbins in a limitless sort mode wherein, if the number of copies to bemade exceeds the capacity of one set of bins, the machine is arranged tofill the one set so that while the other set is being filled, theoperator can empty the one set of bins that have been filled to get themready for further collating operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an ejecting operation in a collating apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to integrate stapling andejecting operations in handling copy sheets.

According to the present invention, the aforementioned and other objectsof the present invention are achieved by a novel ejecting apparatus thatincludes a drive and a driven wheels, and means for moving the drivewheel against the driven wheel with the set of sheets positionedtherebetween to eject the set. There is also provided means for indexingand moving the apparatus for ejecting the sets of sheets in successionfrom the successive set of bins.

Yet another feature of the present invention resides in operativelycombining the ejecting apparatus with a stapling apparatus and controlmeans for integrating the stapling and ejecting operation with thecollating operation in a high speed copier/duplicator machine.

The foregoing and other objects and features will become clearer fromthe following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copying machine incorporating alimitless collating apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the collating apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the collating appa' ratus;

FIG. 4 is a segmented enlarged schematic view of a portion of thecollating and collecting bins;

FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view of the auto matic staplingapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control circuitry for the collatingapparatus;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the motor circuit of the controlcircuitry;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control for the solenoids operative fordeflecting sheets into collating bins, and releasing the collated sheetsinto collecting bins;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of collatingapparatus using the ejecting apparatus according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an ejecting apparatus according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION For a general understanding of reproductionapparatus in which the present collating apparatus may be incorporated,reference is made to FIG. 1 wherein various components of a typicalelectrostatic printer system are illustrated. The printer system may beof the xerographic type and is generally designated with the referencenumeral 11. As in all xerographic systems, a light image of an originalto be reproduced is projected onto the sensitized surface of axerographic plate to form an electrostatic latent image. Thereafter, thelatent image is developed with toner material to form a xerographicpowder image corresponding to the latent image on the plate surface. Thepowder image is then electrostatically transferred to a record materialsuch as a sheet or web of paper or the like to which it may be fused bya fusing device whereby the powder image is caused permanently to adhereto the surface of the record material.

The xerographic processor indicated by the reference numeral 11 isarranged as a selfcontained unit having all of its processing stationslocated in a unitary enclosure or cabinet. The printer system includesan exposure station at which a document to be reproduced is positionedon a glass platen 12 for projection onto a photoconductive surface inthe form of a xerographic belt 13. The document is transported by arecirculating document feed apparatus 15 from the bottom of a stack 17on a supply tray 19 to the platen for exposure and then returned to thetop of the supply tray on completion of the exposure until the entirestack has been copied at which time the cycle may be repeated asdescribed in US. Pat. No. 3,556,512 entitled Document Feed Apparatus andcommonly assigned with the present invention.

Imaging light rays from the document which isflash illuniated by lamps18 are projected by a first mirror 20 and a projection lens 21 andanother mirror 23 onto the xerographic belt 13 at the focal plane forthe lens 21 at a position indicated by the dotted line 25.

As an interface structure and for unobstructed optical projections, theside of the cabinet is formed with an enlarged rectangular opening topermit the projection of image light rays from the lens 21 to the mirror23. Similarly, the cabinet supporting the document plane is formed witha corresponding rectangular opening that mates with the opening in theprinter-cabinet when the two cabinets are operatively joined togetherfor copying purposes. Suitable light tight gaskets may be utilizedadjacent the exterior of each opening in the cabinets in order tominimize the leakage of unwanted extraneous light.

The xerographic belt 13 is mounted for movement around three parallelarranged rollers 27 suitably mounted in the frame processor 11. The beltmay be continuously driven by a suitable motor (not shown) and at anappropriate speed. The exposure of the belt to the imaging light raysfrom the document discharges the photoconductive layer in the areastruck by light whereby there remains on the belt an electrostaticlatent image corresponding to the light image projected from thedocument. As the belt continues its movement, the electrostatic latentimage passes a developing station at which there is positioned adeveloper apparatus 29 for developing the electrostatic latent image.After development, the powdered image is moved to an image transferstation whereat record material or sheet of paper just previouslyseparated from a stack of sheets 30 is held against the surface of thebelt to receive the developed powder image therefrom. The sheet is movedin synchronism with the movement of the belt during transfer of thedeveloped image. After transfer, the sheet of paper is conveyed to afusing station where a fuser device 31 is positioned to receive thesheet of paper for fusing the powder thereon. After fusing of the powderimage, the sheet is conveyed through an opening in the cabinet to alimitless collating apparatus 32 as will be described hereinafter. Thesheets are separated from the stack and fed from the top of the stack bymeans of a separator roll device 33 in timed sequence with the movementof the developed latent images on the belt 13.

Further details of the processing devices and stations in the printersystem are not necessary to understand the principles of the presentinvention. However, for a detailed description of these processingstations and components along with the other structures of the machineprinter, one may refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,661,452 and 3,597,071,respectively which are commonly assigned with the present invention.

It will be appreciated that the printer system may be operated inconjunction with a roll converter unit indicated by the referencenumeral 35. The roll converter unit 35 is adapted to convert arelatively large roll of paper 36 into various sizes of sheets of paperby means of a cutter device 37 and a suitable control system (not shown)arranged to control cutting and feeding of the individual sheets intooperative cooperation with the separator roller 33. It will beappreciated that operative cooperation is assured between the variousunits operating with the printer system by the physical association ofthe cabinets for the units and the matching openings which enable fullcooperation of the imaging light rays and sheet transport path betweenthe units. In this regard, locking clamps may be provided on all theunits for preventing the inadvertent movement of such units during useand interlocks incorporating an alignment device may be utilized on eachunit for ensuring proper alignment and to terminate or suspend operationin the event of misalignment of separation of the unit occurs. Forfacility and needs of operation, each of the units may be provided withcaster wheels and locking brakes thereby aiding in the movement of theunits into and out of cooperative engagement.

LIMITLESS COLLATING APPARATUS Referring now to FIGS.2, 3 and 4, alimitless collating apparatus 32 according to the present inventioncomprises a base frame 51 which supports an upper and a lower binassemblies 53 and 55, respectively.

Upper assembly 53 includes a unitary framework which defines a series ofbins or trays 56 which receive copy sheets in a downward direction.Lower assembly 55 has a unitary framework which defines a series oftrays or bins 57 for receiving the collated copy sheets from the upperor collating bins 56.

The upper or collating assembly includes a transport 115 made up ofhorizontal belts 117 driven by a motor (not shown) and free wheelingrollers 119 positioned below the sheet path. Above the rollers 119 thereare another set of rollers 12] which are positioned in belts 117 toensure proper traction. Fingers or gate members 123 serve to deflect thecopy sheet into the bins or trays when actuated by a solenoid controllogic of a suitable design under the control of the machine controllogic (FIG. 6). The control logic is of a suitable design such thatinitially all of the solenoids for the fingers 123, except for the leftmost finger, are de-energized to leave the gates closed. The copy sheetreaching the collating module or the upper assembly of bins is thereforedirected to the first bin at the left most location. As the sheetentering into the left most bin cuts off the light from a light source125 momentarilly, this is sensed by a photodetecting means such as aphototransistor 127, in the form of a pulse signal. The pulse signal isthen sent out to a machine control logic (FIG. 6). The logic in turnactuates the solenoid for the second bin from v the left most to directthe next sheet to the next bin,

and so on, until all of the bins provided for the collating operationare filled or'lesser of number of bins, as may be programmed for thecopy run.

To transport the copy sheets into the upper or collating assembly, thereis provided a vertical transport 129 disposed as shown off thehorizontal transport 115 which is made up of a vertical belt 131 whichmoves against another belt 131'. The vertical belts are disposed at anincline, as shown as much as the frame 51 and other features of themachine would allow, so that the paper sheet path does not make abruptright angle bends. There may be provided a pair of pinch wheels 134which may be driven by a drive off the vertical transport to propel thesheet member being directed to the collating bins. The sheet memberpropelled forward in the horizontal plane is then deflected upwardlytoward the vertical transport 129 by a deflector 135. The verticaltransport 129 receives the sheets from the deflector 135 and the twobelts 131-131 carry the sheets upwardly.

At the exit end, there is provided a deflecting guide means 136 of asuitable design which guides the sheet into the horizontal path oftravel path defined by the horizontal transport means 115.

There is provided an anti-static bar 137 which is energizable during theoperation of the collating operation for removing the static electricityusually built up on the copy sheets during its travel. It has been foundthat often the static electricity built up in the sheet causes troublein the collating bins and may cause a paper jam. This occurs because thesheets being collated in the bins do not lose the static electricity fora while. As a result the new incoming sheets are prevented from fallingall the way down to the bottom of the respective bins by the attractingforce of the static electricity. Instead the successive sheets droppedinto a bin tend to stick to the sheets already there before they reachthe bottom and consequently the successive sheets crawl up or staggerupwardly. Eventually this causes the upper ends of the sheets to reachthe entrance from the horizontal transport to the bins in the vicinityof the finger 123. It has been found that, as a result, the bin capacityis materially reduced and in some cases the bin entrance is jammed bythe statically charged copy sheets blocking them. The aforementioneddifficulty is significantly reduced by removing the static electricityin the sheet by the anti-static bar 137. The anti-static bar 137 isactuable by the machine control logic (FIG. 6).

Now referring to FIG. 4, respective collating bins 56 include side wallsor frame 73 and a releasable retaining bottom 74 for retaining the copysheets deposited therein from the xerographic copier and dropped intothe bins. The bottom 74 of the bins are releasably mounted so that intheir normal position they are closed so that they retain the sheetscoming into the bins while the collating operation takes place, but theycan be opened to release the collated sheets when they are ready to bereleased. The released sheets are then dropped into the collecting bins57.

Preferably, the entrance ways of the collating bins 56 are disposed asclose to the gate fingers 123 as possible.

There is provided flexible retaining members 145 positioned to guide thesheets into the bottom of the bins. This arrangement reduces the curlingor spreading of the top ends 147 of the sheets and thereby prevents orreduces the tendency of the curled upper ends from blocking the entry ofsheets. This increases the net or effective capacity of the bins inreceiving and holding the sheets.

For the opening and closing operation of the bottoms of the collatingbins, any suitable actuable means may be used such as that schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 4. For example, it may comprise bottom members 74hingedly coupled to a bottom end of the vertical members of the bins. Alinkage arm 59 is provided to couple the bottom members to a suitablemeans such as a solenoid means 58 actuable upon completion of acollating operation by a signal provided by the collating logic 201 viaa signal path 262.

The bottom assembly may be of a unitary frame as illustrated in FIG. 2that has a set of bins 57 corresponding in number to those in the upperassembly. The bottom bins are disposed directly below the correspondingcollating bins 56 and are aligned so that they receive the copy sheetswhen they are released from the collating bins.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there may beprovided a suitable vibrating means, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3. The vibrating means 61 may include a motor MOT-1 mounted in theback of the lower assembly 55 to drive a pair of drive belts 63 and 64.The belts 63 and 64 are in turn used to drive a suitable reciprocatingmember 67 to vibrate the lower assembly 55.

In order to enable the bottom bins to align the edges of the collatingmeans more effectively, the bottom bins are disposed at a slant towardthe front and to the right a little and the bottom members 83 are alsoslanted to the right, as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4. In

this manner, when the bins are vibrated by the running belts 63 and 64,the sheets jog and align as they incline slightly to the right and tothe front. In this mannerthe front and bottom edges of the sheets arealigned. To prevent the sheets from spilling out toward the front, asuitable barrier 82 (FIG. 4) is placed on the front side of the bins 57.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the collatingapparatus is further provided with automatic means for stapling thecollated and edge aligned sheets in the respective bottom or collectingbins. The apparatus is also provided with means automatically removingthe stapled sheets from the bottom bins. As illustrated in FIG. 5, asuitable automatic stapling apparatus 71 may be movably mounted on astationary guide rail 73 along the bottom front of the collecting bins.As shown, the apparatus may include a staple driving head 74, staplesupply 75, means 76 for feeding the staples into the staple driving head74, a driver 79 and an anvil 77. These elements are integrally connectedto a cylindrical carriage member 78. The cylindrical member 78 ismounted to ride on the guide rail 73. When actuated by the operation ofa suitable solenoid (not shown), the hammer 79 hits a trigger (notshown) in the staple head 74 and staples the sheets which are alreadyjogged and edge aligned with the last or end one of the staples.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the bottom members 83 of thecollecting bins 57 are releasably coupled to a right side bin wall 85 bya linkage rod and spring bias means 87. The spring is disposed on thebottom end of the wall 85, the one end being rigidly attached to thewall 85 and the other end to the bottom. The spring applies a clockwisetorque to the bottom members 83. Guides 91 are provided to guide leadingor bottom ends of the sheets coming into the collecting bins. Tip end 90of guides 91 are utilized to act as stops to locate bin bottoms 81 andstops the bottom at a position slightly inclined to the right, as shownin FIGS. 4 and 5. The respective rod member 86 spring coupled to each ofthe walls 85 is in turn rotatably held in position as illustrated inFIG. 5 at hinges 93 at the bottom of the wall 85. The front end of therod. members is bent at an angle as shown. The bent portion 95 is usedas a tripper arm. The arm 95 is held in downward position by the spring87 and maintained in that position. The rod 86 is free to rotate aboutthehinge 93 so that when the arm 95 is rotated counter-clockwise, thebottom member 86 is rotated counter-clockwise to open the bottom of thebin. The opening action is provided by the stapling apparatus as will beexplained below in detail.

Means for rotating the arm generally include a block member 101 having acam surface 103 thereon. Block member 101 is freely slidable on rail 73but is keyed to stop 105 therein by screw 102 to prevent rotation ofblock 101 relative to the rail. Thestapling apparatus is mounted so thatin operation, it is rotated into a stapling position as shown in FIG. 5by rotary solenoid 79' which is mounted on block member 101 through arm79" and link 79". After the stapling operation, the apparatus is rotatedcounter-clockwise to move the stapling head and other members out sothat, i as the apparatus moves to the :next bin, it clears the bin wall85 and stapled sheets 81. After the counterclockwise rotation, theapparatus is moved to the right to the next bin.

To move the stapling head and carriage, a suitable reciprocating rodmember 109 is disposed within the rail 73. The rod member 109 includesspring biased protruding members 111 for engagement with the carriage asthe member 111 moves to the right. A plurality of dogs 107 are providedalong rail 73 to maintain carriage 78 in position for the staplingoperation. In order tounlock carriage 78 from locking dogs 107 disposedon the rail 73, there is provided an open channel 107' along the lengthof the carriage member 98. The channel is so positioned that after thestapling apparatus is rotated counter-clock wise, the channel is inalignment with dogs 107 to clear the dogs, reciprocating movement of rod109 causing protruding members 111 tov engage the bottom surface of thechannel to move the assembly to the right or left. As stated above, thedog 107 is integral with the guide rail 73 and is positioned to stop theanvil 76 at the right place in front of the corresponding bin when thestapling apparatus is moved clockwise into the position to staple. Thestapler assembly operates as follows.

Normally, when it is not in operation, the assembly is moved to theextreme left position. When actuated the apparatus is advanced to theright to the first bin. Then the assembly is rotated clockwise into thestapling position by solenoid mechanism 79'. The stapler mechanism isthen actuated under the command ofa control signal to drive the hammer79 against the anvil 77. The hammering action staples the sheets nearthe front bot tom corner.

After stapling action, the assembly is rotated counter-clockwise andthen advanced to the next bin. As the assembly moves to the right, thecam surface 103 causes the end 95 of the arm 86 of the sheets juststapled to rotate counter-clockwise. This opens the bottom 83 of the binand thereby releases the stapled sheets into the belt below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 there may be provided a suitableconveyor belt 112 and a suitable means including a motor MOT2 which mayactuate the conveyor belt so that the conveyor belt carries forward tothe left the stapled copy sheets to the left. There is also provided asuitable open face collecting tray 97 for receiving the stapled sheetscarried out by the conveyor belt. A suitable means may be provided torespond to the control signals from the control logic to actuate theconveyor belt motor some time prior to the stapling operating so thatthe conveyor is moving when the stapled set of sheets drops on it andde-actuate and stop the conveyor belt some time after the last staplingoperation, when the last stapled sheets are carried out and removed fromthe conveyor belt.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda suitable means including a control logic illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 foroperating the aforedescribed apparatus for automatically collating,collecting, jogging, stapling and removing copy sheets so that all theoperator has to do is program the machine, e.g., punch the keys S1(FIG. 1) to correspond to the number of copies to be made, press the keyS2 to program the machine for operation in the collation mode, place theoriginals, and press the start button S3. The collating apparatus isthen operated automatically to collate, jog the collated sheets, stapleand remove them in successive cycles until the copy run is complete.Thus, if the operator programs more than the bin capacity (e.g., morethan 25 sets of copies in the above example), then the machine makes 25sets of copies first, i.e., collate them and drop them into thecollecting bins in the first cycle. While the rest of the operation ofjogging and stapling operation takes place for the first 25 sets ofcopies, the second cycle of 25, or less depending upon the programmedcopy number, are collated at the collating bins.

An illustrative control logic for operating the apparatus of the presentinvention will now be described. Referring to FIGS. 6 through 9, thereis provided a collating logic 201 of a conventional nature designed torespond to the detected photosignals coming from the phototransistors127, 128 and 208. It may be recalled that the phototransistor 127 ispositioned to sense the passing of the copy sheets from the horizontaltrack into the collating bins 56, The phototransistor 128 is disposed tosense the light source 126 from the opposite end as illustrated in FIG.2 that senses the presence or absence of the copy sheets in thecollating bins. The phototransistor 208 is designed to sense thepresence or absence or sheets in the collecting bins depending uponwhether or not the light supplied by the light source 207 is cut off bythe presence of the sheets in the collecting bins 57 as illustrated inFIG. 2. The collating logic 201 is designed to send out appropriatesignals to the exposure counter 209 of the xerographic apparatus XP, themotor drive circuit 210, and other circuit elements as shall beexplained in detail hereinafter.

The collating logic 201 responds to the photodetection signals andoperates in conjunction with the processor control logic 211 of thexerographic apparatus to integrate the operational activities of thecollating apparatus with the operation of the xerographic-copier.

In operation, the collate logic 210 responds to the signals from thephototransistors 127, 128 and 208 and certain signals from the machineprocessor logic 211 and generates output signals to actuate the fingers123 in sequence, actuate the solenoid 58 to release the bottoms of thecollator bins, actuate the jogging motor MOT-1, the conveyor belt motorMOT2 and send trigger signals to the solenoid 79' in a certain manner,as described below.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, in operating the gate fingers 123 and thecollating bin bottom releasing solenoid 58, the collating logic isprovided with a circuitry 251 for detecting the copy counts signified bythe exposure counter 209 and stores it in a comparison circuit 253. Asthe machine starts producing copies and as the first copy reaches thefirst collating bins, the phototransistor 127 detects it and applies anoutput signal to a collator counter 255. The counter 255, in turn,applies a pulse to a decoder 259 and to the comparison circuit 253. Asthe machine starts producing the copies and as the first copy reachesthe first collating bin, the transistor 127 detects it and applies anoutput signal to a collator counter 255. The counter 255, in turn,applies a pulse to a decoder 259 and to the comparison circuit 253. Thedecoder in turn applies a pulse to a driver circuit 261, which, in turn,is adapted to actuate the solenoid 123 for the next gate finger. Theforegoing process continues until all the 25 bins are filled or untilthe copy run is completed if the copy run is less than 25. If the copyrun is more than 25, then the machine logic controls the operation ofcopying and collating functions in successive cycles until the copy runis complete. The decoder is of such a design that it generates a triggerpulse to the solenoid 58 when the count reaches 25 or when the collatorcounter is reset signifying the completion of the copy run. The collatoris reset when the counts counted by the phototransistor 127 reaches thecounts stored in the circuit from the processor logic 211. Whentriggered, the solenoid 58 releases the collated copies by opening thebin bottoms as described heretofore.

In the aforementioned manner the collate logic operates to fill thecollating bins 56 and release the collated sheets into the collectingbins 57 when all of the collating bins are filled or copy run iscompleted even through all the bins may not be filled. If the collectingbins are not available due to the presence of sheets in the bins fromthe previous operation, this is detected by the phototransistor 208 inthe form of absence of light and this condition is sensed by the collatelogic 201. In turn, the collate logic 201 causes the machine processorlogic 211 to prevent the further operation of the machine. It alsoprevents the solenoid 58 from actuating and thereby releasing the newlycollated sheets'into the collecting bins 57. When the sheets areremoved,

the light is sensed by the sensor 208. This enables the operation toresume automatically.

The collate logic 201 is used to drive the motor MOT-1 for vibrating orjogging the collating bins 57, and thereby the edges of the sheets, thestapler, and actuate the motor MOT-2 to actuate the conveyor belt, andthereby remove the stapled sheets, in a timed manner as follows. Thedrive circuitry for the motors MOT-1 and MOT-2 may be of any suitabledesign such as that illustrated in FIG. 8. It includes a pair of triacsQL and Q2, a pair of relays K1 and K2 and associated circuit elementsconnected as shown for triggering the associated circuit elementsconnected as shown for triggering the associated triacs Q1 and O2 in aconventional manner and thereby energizing the motors MOT-1 and MOT-2.More specifically, when the collate logic proves an enabling signal viathe path 305, the drive circuit relay K1 is actuated and this, in turn,causes the triacs Q] to operate and thereby energize the motor MOT-1.Once energized the motor is driven to vibrate the collecting bins 57.Similarly, when the collating logic 201 provides an output signal viaits output lead 309, an enabling signal is provided to the relay K2.Once actuated K2 in turn operates the triac Q2 thereby energizing themotor MOT-2 for the conveyor belt.

The operating signals for the stapling apparatus may be similarlyprovided by utilizing a motor drive circuit of the type shown in FIG. 7described above or by using a suitable stepper motor 311 which isconnected to respond to enabling signals from the collate logic 201 viaa path 313. More particularly, the enabling signals from logic 201 istimed to occur after the completion ofjogging operation. The signals aretimed to move the stapling apparatus to the right in increments to thesuccessive bins. In timed relationship with the enabling signals,sequential actuating signals are applied to the solenoid 79' via a path315 for effecting the rotation of the carriage about rail 73.

Where it is desirable to effect the stapling operation manually, theoperator may turn off the stapler actuating means by a by-pass switch(not shown) and manually staple the sheets.

In order to render the present collating apparatus more flexible, thereis provided a manual bypass for the motors MOT-1 and MOT-2 in joggingthe collecting bins and operating the conveyor belt. This may be readilyimplemented by providing bypass switches 351 and 352 and 361 and 362 asillustrated in FIG. 7. By manually opening the switches 351 and 352 theoperator can remove the control of the motor drive circuit FIG. from theoutput of the collating logic via the output path 305 and 309 and placeit under manual operation. When the operator wishes to operate theconveyor belt and vibrate the collecting bins independently of theoperation of the rest of the machinery, the switches 351 and 352,respectively, may be closed to operate the motors MOT2 to run theconveyor belt and the motor MOT-1 to jog the collecting bins.

Hereinabove the various features of the present invention have beendescribed with respect to a specific illustrative embodiment in FIGS.1-8, in conjunction with a collating apparatus comprising a set of binsfor collecting operation, another set of bins for receiving the collatedsheets, means for jogging, and means for stapling the jogged sets ofcollated sheets one at a time in succession. A number of suitablevariations or changes may be made to the apparatus within the spirit andscope of the present invention taught above.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, for economy or other reasons, onemay wish to use only one set of bins for collating the copy sheets, edgealign and staple respective collated sheets. For edge alignmentpusposes, a suitable vibrating means such as a motor and a pair ofbeltsused in jogging the collecting bins 57 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 maybe used. To aid the alignment process, the bins may be also inclinedslightly to the right and backwardly, whereby the back and the rightside wall and bottom provides the necessary guide edges. Also forexample, the drive belt advancing mechanism illustrated and described inconnection with FIG. 5 in advancing and indexing the stapling apparatuscarriage may be replaced by a lead screw type of mechanism.

Upon completion of the collating and edge aligning operation, thestapling operation may be performed by using an automatic staplingapparatus such as that illustrated in FIG. 10 which is similar design tothat shown in FIG. 5. The stapled set of sheets may then be dropped tothe bottom under the command of the control logic and removed from thebins by having the bottom of the bins openable as described above inconjunction with FIG. 4.

In some applications, it may be necessary or preferable that the sets ofstapled sheets be ejected to the front v by suitable means 401. Theejected stapled sheets may then be placed on a conveyor belt 403 asillustrated in FIG. 9. The belt 403 would then transport stapled set ofsheets to a suitable stacker 405, as illustrated. For ejecting thestapled sheets sidewise an ejecting apparatus of the type shown in FIG.10 may be used advantageously in conjunction with a stapler similar tostapler 71 shown in FIG. 5. The ejecting apparatus may comprise a pairof wheels comprising a driven wheels 411 mounted and positioned torotate freely about a vertical axis413 at the end ofa column 412 mountedon the carriage frame 78, and a drive wheel 417 mounted on an axis 419.The driven wheel 411 is positioned fixedly on the carriage 78 and sopositioned that its peripheral surface will touch or be in contactagainst one side of a set of sheets 421, when the stapling apparatus ismoved into the stapling position. There is a suitable recess 423 in theside wall 73 into which the wheel 411 can be brought, as the carriagerotates clockwise to bring the stapler 71 into stapling position so thatthe peripheral surface of wheel 411 can be brought into contact with thesheets 421.

There is provided a solenoid 431 mounted on the carriage 78 and aretractable solenoid arm 433 connected as shown. A motor MOT-3, whenenergized, drives the drive wheel 417 by a belt 435. The motor MOT-3 ismounted at one end of an pivotal plate member 436 as shown. The drivewheel is mounted at the other end as illustrated. The retractable arm433 is normally withdrawn when the solenoid is not energized. Uponenergization the solenoid arm 4353 rotates the plate 436 clockwise abouta pivot 438 and this pushes drive wheel 417 to the right clockwise aboutthe pivot 438.

As the drive wheel 417 is pressed to the right it comes in contact withthe stapled sheets 421 and against the freely rotating wheel 411. Bydriving or rotating the drive wheel 417 clockwise the stapled set ofsheets 421 is ejected forward as the wheel 417 is pressed and rotatedagainst the collated sets of sheets 421, and freely rotating wheel 411rotating counter-clockwise also assists the ejection operation.

The enabling or actuating signals for the motor MOT-3 and the solenoid431 are applied respectively in timed relationship by the control logic201 in a suitable manner. Preferably, the logic enables the stapling andejecting operation to take place concurrently. Thus, as the set in theright bin is stapled, the set in succeeding or the left bin is ejected.There is provided, preferably means (not shown) for detecting theejection and for allowing the apparatus to move and index to the nextbin only whenthe ejection operation is complete. The motor MOT-3 couldbe left running all the time without any difficulties. The solenoid 431may be actuated by the decoder 259 of the control logic. Thus, inoperation, the control logic provides necessary command signals to thesolenoid 431 so that the ejecting operation is implemented for each setof the stapled sheets, the stapler and ejector are carried forward bythe carriage 78 and indexed into the successive operating positions andstaple one bin while ejecting a stapled set of sheets in a preceedingbin until all of the bins are stapled and ejected.

While the invention described with respect to illustrative embodimentshereinabove, it is not confined to the details set forth hereinabove andthis application is intended to cover such modifications or changes thatmay come within the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. In a reproduction system including apparatus for reproducing copysheets and a collating apparatus having a plurality of bins into whichthe reproduced copy sheets are collated according to a copy programunder control of the system logic, means for ejecting completed sets ofsheets from the collator bins comprising:

an elongated rail disposed alongside the collator bins;

carriage means adapted for longitudinal movement along said rail androtary movement about said rail;

a freely rotatable driven wheel mounted on said carriage;

a drive wheel mounted on said carriage opposite said driven wheel, saiddrive wheel being movable toward said driven wheel;

means for sequentially moving said carriage longitudinally along saidrail to successively locate said carriage opposite each bin of saidcollator;

means for rotating said carriage about said rail toward the collatorbins to position said driven wheel and said drive wheel on oppositesides of a collated set of copies in each bin, movement of said drivewheel towards said driven wheel causing each set of copies to be pinchedtherebetween and ejected sideways out of the bin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an automatic staplingapparatus mounted on said carriage, rotation of said carriage to movesaid wheels toward said bins moving said stapling apparatus intoposition relative to the set of copies in the bin preceding said wheels,said stapling apparatus thereby being adapted to staple each set ofcopies simultaneously with the ejection of the previously stapled set bysaid wheels.

1. In a reproduction system including apparatus for reproducing copysheets and a collating apparatus having a plurality of bins into whichthe reproduced copy sheets are collated according to a copy programunder control of the system logic, means for ejecting completed sets ofsheets from the collator bins comprising: an elongated rail disposedalongside the collator bins; carriage means adapted for longitudinalmovement along said rail and rotary movement about said rail; a freelyrotatable driven wheel mounted on said carriage; a drive wheel mountedon said carriage opposite said driven wheel, said drive wheel beingmovable toward said driven wheel; means for sequentially moving saidcarriage longitudinally along said rail to successively locate saidcarriage opposite each bin of said collator; means for rotating saidcarriage about said rail toward the collator bins to position saiddriven wheel and said drive wheel on opposite sides of a collated set ofcopies in each bin, movement of said drive wheel towards said drivenwheel causing each set of copies to be pinched therebetween and ejectedsideways out of the bin.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further includingan automatic stapling apparatus mounted on said carriage, rotation ofsaid carriage to move said wheels toward said bins moving said staplingapparatus into position relative to the set of copies in the binpreceding said wheels, said stapling apparatus thereby being adapted tostaple each set of copies simultaneously with the ejection of thepreviously stapled set by said wheels.